Patriarchy in Hamlet Essay -- Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

Patriarchy in Hamlet William Shakespeares Hamlet employs the concept of patriarchy in several scenarios and each on different levels. These levels of patriarchy, if even for the akin character, vary in their role in the go. Three patriarchal characters are easily identified the ghost of Hamlets father, the king Claudius, and the lord chamberlain Polonius. contempt their variances each patriarchy displays values and actions which are key factors in bringing about the cataclysmic ending to Hamlet. Claudius fills the role of father figure as both(prenominal)(prenominal) king to a nation and stepfather to young Hamlet, whose father has died unexpectedly. It is revealed later that Claudius is responsible for the death of his familiar, King Hamlet. This very act of murder to obtain the throne and conjoin his own sister-in-law, an act equal to incest in the eyes of their society, displays from the first the poor quality of monarchy that can be expected from Claudius. Young Fortinbr as of Norway feels that since the King Hamlet is breathless he is entitled to his inheritance of land, and rightly so as the contract was drawn between King Hamlet and Fortinbrass father. The young Fortinbras is obviously some form of a threat to the kingdom, a thought expressed as well by Horatio and Bernardo as they stand watch in the opening of the play (1.1.80-125). Claudius does not appear to be overly concerned with the matter. He sends two couriers to Fortinbrass sick uncle asking that he stop Fortinbras and his attack on Denmark. Meanwhile, it seems as if Claudius does not give the matter another thought. It is odd that he does not more safely guard the kingdom that meant enough to him to kill his own brother to obtain it. He of all people should know what one ... ...blishers, 1999. Chute, Marchette. The Story Told in Hamlet. Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from Stories from Shakespeare. N. p. E. P. Dutton, 1956. Homer. The Odysse y. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. spread out Edition in star Volume. New York W.W. Norton & Company, 1997. 101-336. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Expanded Edition in One Volume. New York W.W. Norton & Company, 1997. 1634-726. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http//www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos. Ovid. Metamorphoses. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Expanded Edition in One Volume. New York W.W. Norton & Company, 1997. 684-99.